What a Physical Therapist Can Do for You

Many thanks to EverydayHealth.com for bringing me into the family! I am excited to bring my expertise to the table. My weekly focus will be on injury prevention, general orthopedic physical therapy, and related sports medicine topics.

Millions of people undergo physical therapy each year per the recommendation of their doctor. I have found that most people show up for their first appointment either having no idea of what to expect, or expecting physical torture. So, I thought that it would be useful to describe in my first blog exactly what it is that good physical therapists do.

Physical therapists in the outpatient setting help to improve function, decrease pain, improve strength and mobility, and educate. Physical therapists may see post-surgical patients, people involved in accidents or other physical traumas, athletes who have developed pain secondary to their sports, and ordinary people who suffer from all varieties of bodily pain.

This huge variety of patients keeps my job interesting. I can start my day with a young woman who has lost range of motion in her wrist after sustaining a radial fracture, and end it with a middle-aged sedentary man with chronic lower back pain.

Physical therapists vary in their treatment techniques. Intervention largely depends on the therapist’s education and influences. In general, however, we tend to stay within the following scopes of practice.

Manual therapy – The purpose of manual therapy is to optimize the mobility of the joints, muscles, and other tissue structures. Expect to be touched when you show up to physical therapy. This may include muscle stretching or muscle releasing similar to deep massage. Most therapists will also include what is called joint mobilization. This is similar to chiropractic manipulation, although joint mobilization tends to be slower and less forceful.

Therapeutic Exercise – People inevitably get into trouble when muscles are too weak to perform their jobs. For example, nothing is more common in this country than weak buttock muscles that arise from sitting at a computer for eight hours a day. Physical therapists address this issue by prescribing and monitoring the progress of specific exercises that address the patient’s diagnosis. You will most likely be expected to perform a home exercise routine prescribed to you by the therapist.

Modalities – Ultrasound, electric stimulation, lasers, and other gadgets are used at times by therapists to address acute symptoms that a patient might have. For example, we might use ultrasound as a way of increasing blood flow to a muscle that is in spasm. Electric stimulation has been shown to aid in “jump-starting” an underused muscle into contracting more readily.

Education – Patient education is a broad yet incredibly important aspect of patient care. In many cases people can lessen or even rid themselves of pain simply by changing bad habits or unwanted behaviors.

Last year I saw an architect who was planning on having spinal surgery as a means of addressing a sharp shooting pain that was in his neck and right arm. Not a single medical professional had ever asked to see how his work station was set up. His right arm was forced to use the mouse in a position that was entirely too far in front of his body for hours on end.As soon as this was changed the need for surgery was effectively eliminated. It is amazing what a little education can do.

In the weeks to come I will be blogging about important topics that you can hopefully relate to. I welcome any questions or comments that you might have. Our ultimate goal is to get you, the reader, to improve your health through changing bad habits and addressing potential problems in a safe manner.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel Baumstark, CHT

Daniel is a licensed physical therapist and the owner of PhysioDC (physiodc.com ), a sportsmedicine clinic in downtown Washington DC. He graduated in 1998 with clinical honors from the Washington University...read more

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